San Francisco Travel Guide

10/05/2012 15:47

San Francisco is a unique city, much loved by visitors, who return frequently to take in the myriad pleasures of the ‘city by the bay’ With more than 3,500 restaurants and drinking establishments and an estimated 30,000-plus hotel rooms, visitors are in tourist paradise.Arguable the most attractive of American cities and regularly voted the best city in the USA, San Francisco is adored because of its colourful history, dramatic setting and its laissez-faire atmosphere, a quality missing from synthetic Los Angeles.San Francisco began life as a feisty frontier town, and little has changed in 150 years. The city only occupies 47 hilly square miles of California, but it captivates the world.

It is a regular trendsetter in everything alternative, from flower-power to ‘free love’ and gay liberation; it prides itself on being individualistic, down-to-earth and cultured.

The appeal of San Fran is widespread. The beaches, cliffs, storm-tossed seas and the swoop of Golden Gate Bridge continue to draw tourists.San Francisco remains America’s most liberal city, where sex workshops count for college credit.

Freewheeling and funky, it’s the birthplace of blue jeans, mountain bikes and topless waitresses.Yet the city isn’t all whimsy – the United Nations, Visa, Access and Bank of America also have their roots by the Bay.

It’s a unique city, much loved by visitors, who return frequently to take in the myriad pleasures of the ‘city by the bay’.

Popular attractions include:

Historic Cable Car Ride – No visit to San Francisco would be complete without a ride on San Francisco’s most notable form of transportation.

Golden Gate Bay Cruise- What better way to experience the city by the bay than to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, past Sausalito and around Alcatraz.SBC Park Tour– Tour “Baseball’s Perfect Address” with views of downtown and the Bay. This behind-the-scenes tour takes you to places only the players and coaches go.Exploratorium – Founded by noted physicist and educator Dr. Frank Oppenheimer, the Exploratorium is a collage of over 650 science, art, and human perception exhibits.

Chabot Space Center and Planetarium – The entire universe if yours to experience in the Chabot’s planetarium and observatory, and through their exhibits and MegaDome Theater.

Zeum – The Zeum celebrates the techie side of San Francisco with hands-on art and technology exhibits for the whole family.

Mexican Museum – Founded in 1975, the Mexican Museum voices the complexity and richness of Latino art throughout the Americas.

Museo ItaloAmericano – Established in 1978, the Museo ItaloAmericano is the only museum in the US devoted exclusively to Italian and Italian-American art and culture.

SS Jeremiah O’Brien – A visit to SS Jeremiah O’Brien is a historic journey on a WWII vessel, the only ship from the Normandy invasion to return for the 50th year anniversary.

USS Hornet- Step aboard the legendary aircraft carrier that participated in both World War II and the Apollo 11 manned space mission.Bacchus and Venus Wine Tasting Room– Sample wines from ten of California’s finest wineries at the Bacchus and Venus tasting room, located in the heart of Sausalito just across the bay.Clos Pegase Winery – This unique winery exists at the intersection of fine wine and fine art. Visit their beautifully adorned tasting room for a truly enjoyable experience.